It’s possible that the controversy surrounding Olbermann’s sudden departure from the network drove more viewers to check out the network, the story points out. Lawrence O’Donnell, who replaced Olbermann, averaged 1.5 million total viewers on Monday evening, up roughly 50% from Olbermann’s average in the same time period, which had been about 1 million, the article notes.

O’Donnell said in his first night as Olbermann’s replacement that he owed his introduction to MSNBC to the departed host, the piece adds.